Because you see life is like a voyage sometimes the sea is calm sometimes the wind blows softly
sometimes the sun is shining thank God for those times maybe that's where you are right now just
sailing along and if you are enjoy it it's a gift of God but sometimes the wind rises sometimes the
sky darkens sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of a terrible storm that's the way life is
maybe you're in a storm you didn't plan on it it was completely unexpected but you're
in the middle of it and you're wondering if you'll survive could be a physical storm
maybe it's a relational storm with your spouse your kids your parents or a friend the
relationship that meant so much to you is now in deep trouble maybe your financial boat is getting
rocked by heavy waves you're sinking deeper and deeper in debt and wondering if you'll ever be
able to get your head above water again maybe it's an emotional storm for you the storm is internal
you're fighting a battle no one else can see with depression anxiety or fear you're in a storm
in Matthew chapter 8 the disciples found themselves in a literal storm on the Sea
of Galilee we pick it up in verse 23 then he Jesus Jesus got into the boat and his disciples
followed him without warning a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept
over the boat now before we even really start the story I have to share with you an important fact
the disciples followed Jesus into that boat if you go back to verse 18 you read this when Jesus
saw the crowd around him he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake it was Jesus's plan
it was Jesus's idea to be in that boat on that sea at that time
this may be the most important thing you learned today storms come even when you're following Jesus
if you're in a storm and you're wondering where you went wrong I want to encourage
you this storm doesn't necessarily mean you've missed God some storms are of your own making
but often storms come even though you're following Jesus
being a Christian never exempts you from a storm don't think that because you have a tough time
it's you're disobeying God the disciples got in this storm because they obeyed God Jesus said
get in the boat they got in the boat and sailed right into a storm they were right in the center
of God's will but in the middle of a storm so when you're going through a tough time do not
automatically assume I must be out of the will of God because you might be exactly where God wants
you to be storms are impartial these disciples were not out of the will of God why were they in
a storm they were in a storm don't miss this they were in a storm because they were in the will of
God it was Jesus that constrained them to get into that boat they were in this storm because
they were obeying Jesus why would Jesus want them to be in a storm because he wanted them to grow
I want to ask you a question those of you who've been on the trail for a while when did you grow
the most when everything was fine when you were smoothly sailing or when the storm came
and sometimes God allows very difficult situations in a life to do what to grow us up
and I don't think that if God allows a storm in your life it is ultimate purpose is to
bring you out stronger you will learn things in storms that you will never learn any other way
a calm sea never produced a good sailor how would you like to go on the seas with
a sailor who'd never been on trouble seas if you're going to have a good life it means
you're going to go through stuff but the purpose of that stuff isn't to harm you God allows it or
causes it to grow you up to grow me up and the lesson is that Jesus can be trusted in
the storms of life and the only way you're ever going to prove that truth is to go through them
that's it if you've never had a problem you'd never know God could solve them it's God who
is the master of the winds and the waves and he's the one who causes storms to come you know
it is a shallow theology a very shallow theology that says if we're in the will of God that we're
just going to sail always smoothly on the sea of life no no no no no uh listen we are going to have
difficulty and the first thing that you can say when difficulty comes is that God's providence is
over it all I am governed by his providence uh God's wonderful plan is in effect now
God's plan is not to indulge you God's plan is to enlarge you Psalm 4 verse 1 thou hast enlarged me
when I was in distress thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress I am growing by his plan
the disciples didn't expect the storm but now this group several of them by the way expert fishermen
were fighting for the lives as the waves threatened to sink their boat
the disciples thought they weren't going to make it Jesus was so disturbed by the storm
that he was taking a nap while the disciples panicked Jesus slept here's why that's so
encouraging it lets you know Jesus isn't intimidated by your storm to you it seems
impossible unending devastating Jesus on the other hand isn't frightened by in the least
they shifted their attention from the winds and the waves and the storm to Jesus they recognized
we can't handle this by ourselves there's nothing we can do we'd better wake up Jesus
when storms come never forget Jesus is in the boat with you Jesus is in your boat
well friend maybe you're in a storm right now like the disciples in this boat
here's my question who's in the boat with you it's Jesus he's in our boat he's in our life and we
would do well to remember who he is and what he can do he's still quiet storms and he can quiet
the heart of his child in the middle of a storm if you're going through a storm the first lesson you
got to learn is God is always with you if you're a believer there will be nothing I will face or
you the rest of our life alone Jesus is in my boat he's he's in there he's in my life and in my boat
and if you're a believer he's in your boat too God promises every believer lo I am with you always
I will never leave you or forsake you Isaiah 43 verse 1 and 2 fear not for I have redeemed you
I have called you by name you are mine when you pass through the waters I'll be with you when you
pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you what a promise if your boat's rocking don't
worry if you're a believer Jesus is in your boat so remember God's closeness he's still with you
I understand you're in a storm but you don't have to face that storm alone
Jesus said in this world you will you will have trouble
but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world the one who created this world and the one
who overcame death is in your boat you don't have to fear the storm because Jesus is in your boat
I don't know how people face the storms of life without Jesus Mark in his telling the
story gives us Jesus's words Jesus stood up in the boat he arose and rebuked the
wind and said to the sea peace be still and the wind ceased and there was a great calm
there are a lot of wind and waves around us
none of that knocks Jesus out of the boat none of that intimidates him
in the middle of it all in spite of it all you can turn to Jesus and with just three words peace
be still Jesus can calm your storm Jesus is not intimidated he's not afraid he's with you he's in
the boat he can and will speak peace to you even then in the middle of your most terrifying storm
Jesus expects you to trust him in the storm
regardless of your storm Jesus is your solution Jesus promises to bring you through your storm
look at verse 35 on that day when evening came he said to them let us go to the other side
Jesus didn't tell him it'd be an easy trip he didn't say they wouldn't get wet he didn't say
they would wouldn't have an attack or be scared he just says we are going to the other side and they
did you're going to make it we're going to make it and notice what Jesus said to the disciples
in verse 26 you of little faith why are you so afraid now that tells me two things the root of
their problem was fear and the solution to their problem is faith the greatest threat to the lives
of the disciples was not the storm it was their unbelief the secret of victory over fear is faith
and even if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move a mountain
so you don't have to have super super super faith you just have to have that little bit
of faith in a great big God that's the issue see everybody's got faith but you don't have
to have a bunch you can put a little faith in a big God and get big results
God can handle it God's bigger than your storm I don't have to have the answer I just know who does
I don't know I know enough history to know he'll bring me through I don't know how I can't see
it but I know he'll bring me through me through and so there's only one thing that can calm your
storm and that's Jesus but you got to get him in your boat you got to get him in your life you got
to have Jesus in your life to make it through the storms of life but listen to me carefully
whenever you are in a storm Jesus knows about it he's close by and he's waiting for you to ask for
help I'll never leave you nor forsake you is his promise think about that Jesus has said
to every one of us who are his children I will never leave you nor forsake you you aren't alone
you aren't alone we do not walk this road alone that's why we can say with confidence you'll
survive this storm you will because you're not alone you belong to God has never promised a
life with no problems but God has promised to be there when we face them but storms are temporary
they don't last there are no eternal storms Mark Twain and a friend walked outside one day in a
rainstorm the friend said you think it'll stop Mark Twain said always does always does that's
true with any storm you got to go through it but it won't last forever you know morning's coming
may be dark right now but morning and the sun will shine again because some of you are in a
major storm right now and God's word to you is the sun will shine again there is hope God is with you